Bay Area Tennis Camp for Boys & Girls: Overnight Camp at Cal State East Bay

Tennis is a different kind of sport. There’s no teammate to cover for you, no coach on the sideline calling plays. Every point is decided by the choices you make — your footwork, your shot selection, your composure under pressure. That’s what makes the right summer tennis program matter so much more than the rackets and courts it happens on.

At Maccabi Sports Camp, our co-ed overnight tennis program is built around that reality. Set on the campus of Cal State East Bay in Hayward, our kids tennis camp gives boys and girls individualized coaching attention, a structured technical curriculum, and the kind of mental game development that most tennis programs never get around to. Whether you’re looking for a tennis camp for kids who are just starting out or for serious juniors pushing toward competitive play, Maccabi is built for both. Players leave with a better game — and a better understanding of themselves.

This is the Bay Area’s only Jewish overnight tennis camp. And it’s unlike anything else in the region.

Enroll now, request a camp tour, request more information, or call us at (415) 997-8844 — we’re happy to answer any questions about the program.

More Than a Day Camp: Why Overnight Makes the Difference

A day tennis camp gives your child a few hours of court time. An overnight camp gives them a complete experience — and for a sport as mentally demanding as tennis, that difference is significant.

The hours between court sessions matter just as much as the sessions themselves. Evening conversations about strategy, the mental reset of sharing a cabin with other young players, the experience of competing tired and under pressure — these are where real tennis players are made. Not just in the drills.

At Maccabi Sports Camp, campers live on the CSUEB campus in Hayward, eat together in the university dining hall, and train on Cal State East Bay’s courts throughout the day. It’s a fully immersive week — not a drop-off clinic. For families looking for a sleepaway tennis camp in the Bay Area, Maccabi is the only overnight option that combines elite coaching with a genuine Jewish camp experience. For a sport built on mental toughness and self-reliance, there’s no better environment to develop both.

Boys and girls train and compete together. Tennis has always been a co-ed sport at the recreational and competitive level. Our program reflects that reality: boys and girls play alongside each other, challenge each other, and learn from each other in a structured, supportive environment that pushes every player regardless of gender.

What We Work On: A Complete Technical & Mental Game Curriculum

Our coaching staff builds each player’s game from the ground up — or, for more advanced players, sharpens what’s already there. Every session is structured around real skill development, not just repetition for its own sake.

Groundstrokes & consistency

Forehand and backhand mechanics, topspin technique, depth and placement, and the transition from practice consistency to match consistency under pressure. Players at every level leave with a more reliable baseline game.

Serve & return

The serve is the one shot in tennis you control completely — and most juniors underinvest in it. We work on service motion, toss consistency, placement, and developing a second serve players actually trust. Return of serve positioning and decision-making is covered with equal attention.

Net play & court coverage

Approach shots, volleys, overheads, and footwork patterns that allow players to cover the court efficiently. We work on when to come forward and how to finish points — skills that separate players at every level.

Match play & tactical IQ

Technical skills only matter when they hold up in competition. We dedicate significant time to supervised match play — organized by ability — with coaching between points and sets to develop in-match decision-making, pattern recognition, and tactical awareness.

The mental game

This is what most tennis programs skip entirely — and what Maccabi treats as a core part of skill development. Between-point routines, managing frustration, staying present after errors, competing with confidence under pressure: these are teachable skills, and we teach them deliberately. Grounded in the Jewish values that define this program, our approach to mental game development connects athletic performance to character in a way that stays with players long after summer ends.

What Boys Gain at Maccabi Tennis Camp

For boys, Maccabi tennis is a chance to develop in an environment that takes the sport seriously without taking itself too seriously. The training is rigorous, the competition is real, and the coaching is genuinely individualized — something most group programs can’t offer.

For the developing player: a structured, encouraging environment where fundamentals are built correctly from the start. Our coaches are patient with process and demanding about form — the combination that produces lasting improvement rather than short-term results.

For the competitive player: high-level match play organized by ability, tactical coaching between points, and mental game development designed to help players compete at a higher level when it counts most.

For the kid who loves camp: an overnight community where the love of a sport is the shared language. Boys form real friendships in our CSUEB cabins — the kind that feel different from school friendships because they’re forged in competition and built on something genuine.

What Girls Gain at Maccabi Tennis Camp

For girls, Maccabi tennis offers something genuinely rare: an overnight program that treats female players as serious athletes without caveats. Same courts, same coaches, same curriculum, same coaching attention as the boys. No shortened sessions, no adjusted expectations.

For the aspiring competitor: technical instruction that translates directly to match performance, plus the experience of competing against a range of opponents in a structured, supported environment.

For the player building confidence: individualized coaching attention in a team-spirited environment. Our coaches understand that confidence in tennis is built through process — and they coach accordingly.

For the girl who loves camp and tennis equally: Maccabi is the only overnight tennis camp in the Bay Area with genuine Jewish camp culture running through the entire experience. The sport and the community are inseparable here — and that’s exactly the point.

Jewish Values. Real Friendships. Unforgettable Summers.

Maccabi Sports Camp is the West Coast’s only Jewish overnight sports camp, and a flagship program of the Oshman Family JCC. What that means on a tennis court isn’t a lecture or a list of rules — it’s a culture that shapes how players compete, how they treat opponents, and how they respond to adversity.

Tennis, more than most sports, puts character on display. Every missed shot is a choice about how to respond. Every close call is a test of integrity. Every tough match is an opportunity to compete with grace. These aren’t just nice ideas at Maccabi — they’re part of the coaching.

Jewish campers feel immediately at home in our community. Players of all backgrounds consistently tell us they leave Maccabi with something they didn’t expect: a group of people they competed alongside and genuinely trust.

Shabbat, evening programming, and community traditions run through the week in a way that feels real — not obligatory.

Our Home: Cal State East Bay in Hayward, CA

Maccabi Tennis Camp is hosted on the campus of California State University, East Bay — a spacious, beautifully situated university campus on a hill in Hayward, CA, in the heart of the East Bay. Families from San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, the Peninsula, and Silicon Valley all find CSUEB convenient; it’s a short drive from all three major Bay Area airports.

The CSUEB campus gives our campers access to the same athletic facilities used by collegiate athletes:
– Tennis courts on the CSUEB campus for all training and match play sessions
– University dormitory suites used as cabins, with 8 campers and 2–3 dedicated counselors per suite
– Lane and recreational swimming pools for recovery and evening activities
– Campus dining hall serving kosher-style meals, with organic, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options
– Classrooms and outdoor spaces for tactical discussions, video review, and evening programming
– A campus garden used for Shabbat and community gatherings
 
The campus sits away from the noise of daily life — spacious, quiet, and purpose-built for the kind of focused, immersive week that makes Maccabi different from any day program in the Bay Area. For parents searching for a tennis summer camp near them in the East Bay, San Jose, Oakland, or San Francisco, CSUEB is the closest world-class overnight facility available.

Want to see the campus and courts for yourself? Request a camp tour or attend an open house — or call us at (415) 997-8844 and we’ll walk you through what a week at camp looks like.

Program Details at a Glance

Who it’s for: Boys and girls, ages 8–16, all skill levels — from beginners picking up a racket for the first time to competitive junior players preparing for tournament play

Camp format: Overnight (sleep-away) — the Bay Area’s only Jewish overnight tennis camp

Location: Cal State East Bay (CSUEB) campus, Hayward, CA — accessible from across the Bay Area

Housing: CSUEB dormitory suites; 8 campers + 2–3 counselors per cabin, organized by grade and gender

Training: Morning and afternoon court sessions covering stroke mechanics, match play, and mental game development

Groupings: Players are grouped by ability level, not age, for all technical and match play sessions

Dining: Kosher-style meals in the CSUEB dining hall; organic, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options available

Evening programming: Team activities, Jewish life programming, community events, Shabbat

Staff: Coaches with competitive playing and coaching backgrounds, selected for their ability to teach the mental game alongside the technical one

Affiliation: Oshman Family JCC | West Coast’s only Jewish overnight sports camp

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this camp co-ed? Can boys and girls attend together?

Yes — Maccabi Tennis Camp is fully co-ed. Boys and girls train and compete together throughout the week. Tennis has always been a naturally co-ed sport, and our program is designed to develop every player at their individual level — regardless of gender. Mixed training environments consistently produce better competitors.

What ages and skill levels is this camp for?

We welcome players ages 8 through 16, from complete beginners to competitive juniors preparing for tournament play. Maccabi functions as both a kids tennis camp for younger players building fundamentals and a junior tennis camp for older players who need position-specific coaching and high-level match play. Players are grouped by ability level — not age — so every camper is challenged appropriately and receives coaching that matches where they actually are in their development.

Is this an overnight camp or a day camp?

Maccabi Tennis Camp is a true overnight, sleepaway camp. Players live on the Cal State East Bay campus in Hayward for the duration of the session. For a mentally demanding sport like tennis, the overnight format — with its built-in time for reflection, recovery, and community — is a genuine competitive advantage.

Where exactly is the camp located?

Camp is held on the campus of California State University, East Bay (CSUEB) in Hayward, CA — in the East Bay, accessible from across the Bay Area, and a short drive from all three major Bay Area airports. Note: the Oshman Family JCC’s administrative office is in Palo Alto, but camp takes place at CSUEB in Hayward.

Does my child need to be Jewish to attend?

Not at all. Maccabi Sports Camp welcomes players of all backgrounds. Our Jewish values create a character-focused, integrity-driven culture that resonates across traditions. Jewish campers feel deeply at home; players of all backgrounds tell us they leave with a sense of community they didn’t expect.

What level of tennis experience does my child need?

None — or quite a lot. We genuinely welcome both. Beginners will work with coaches who specialize in building foundational technique correctly from the first session. Advanced junior players will receive tactical coaching, mental game development, and competitive match play calibrated to their level. Maccabi works just as well as a first-time kids tennis camp as it does as a competitive junior tennis camp. Groupings are always done by ability, not age or prior experience.

How do I register?

Use the Enroll Now link to start your application through the CampInTouch portal. You can also request a camp tour, attend an open house, or call us at (415) 997-8844 — we’re happy to answer any questions and help you figure out if Maccabi is the right fit.

Ready to Give Your Child the Summer They’ll Talk About Forever?

Enrollment for our Bay Area co-ed overnight tennis camp fills quickly — especially for returning families. Whether your child is holding a racket for the first time or grinding toward their first tournament win, we want them on the courts at Cal State East Bay this summer.

Spots are limited. Secure your child’s place today.

Enroll now, schedule a camp tour, attend an open house, or call us directly at (415) 997-8844 — we’d love to have your child on the court with us this summer.

Have more questions? We’d love to answer them. Request info today!